Bath & West Community Energy - BWCE

18/06/2026

Fairy Hill is now live and generating electricity⚡️

We are delighted to announce that Fairy Hill Solar Farm, Compton Dando, is now live and generating clean electricity! Making a contribution to UK energy security and reducing the reliance on polluting fossil fuels.

This marks a major milestone and wouldn’t have been possible without the support from the landowner, Zero Carbon Compton, and members of the community, some of whom are participants of the project steering group. Compton Dando Community

Fairy Hill has the capacity to generate 2 MW of clean electricity (the equivalent demand of 800 households annually) into the local grid network. This can be used as lower-cost electricity by local households who become part of the newly established Energy Local Fairy Hill supply club.

A small number of local households are already pioneer club members, with wider recruitment planned by BWCE over the summer, inviting more householders to benefit from the locally generated solar electricity 🏘️

There will be an opportunity to join us at our official Fairy Hill Solar Farm launch event later in the year and to participate in our autumn tree planting programme.

Keep up to date with our plans and the roll-out of the local supply club by joining our mailing list: mailchi.mp/bwce.coop/sign-up-to-our-newsletter-for-the-fairy-hill-solar

17/06/2026

An excellent report from the committee's investigation into community energy with some punchy recommendations.

Community ownership of energy resources is in danger of being left behind in the transition unless the Department takes urgent action, says the Committee in a report today - with the risk that an opportunity to build public support for the government’s 2030 targets and for the renewable sector...

17/06/2026

Want to find out more about community energy and stay in touch with BWCE?

➡️ Contact us if you want to become a member of BWCE and invest in our projects, invite one of the team to give a talk or presentation to your group, or ask a general question about community energy or BWCE - [email protected]

➡️ Contact our Home Energy team to find out more about our energy efficiency support and services, to speak to an advisor or ask a question - [email protected]

➡️ Contact our Renewables Development team to suggest a site for rooftop solar or discuss the potential for renewables in your community - [email protected]

➡️ Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates on all BWCE projects for our newsletter - www.bwce.coop/contact

16/06/2026

The BWCE Fund in action! High Littleton Scout Group received a grant in 2025 to upgrade their windows to new double glazing and make it a more energy efficient building.

Surplus income from our renewable projects is reinvested into the Fund, to support local projects reducing carbon emissions and addressing fuel poverty.

Read more about what the Scout Group did: www.bwce.coop/news-posts/bwce-fund/high-littleton-scout-hall

Or find out more about which groups have beneffitted from the Fund: www.bwce.coop/community-benefit/previously-funded

High Littleton Scout Group received a BWCE Fund grant in 2025 to replace the original single glazed units with new double glazed windows.

15/06/2026

People of Bath and North East Somerset, did you know about the Climate Hub and what a great place it is to visit? It's easy to find in Central Bath - right in the heart of the bus station and close to the train station, also online here: climatehub.org.uk

The mission of the Climate Hub is to unite people and communities for a positive future in the face of the climate and ecological emergency. The hub acts as a central place to provide education, information, and safe spaces for discussion, supporting the community to build capacity and take collaborative action for nature and the climate in the BANES area and beyond.🌎

The first photo is a few of our team visiting the Hub back in the colder months, and the last photo in this post lists many of the organisations the Climate Hub works with, pulling us all together.

12/06/2026

Have you seen a screening of the People's Emergency Briefing yet?

The film ends with a powerful call to action. Here are a few ways you can get involved:
- Contact your MP and call for a UK-wide TV screening of the film by signing the petition
- Organise your own screening at your workplace or with a local community group
- Join a local organisation that is taking action on climate and nature

Find the petition and our list of several more ways you can take action after watching the film: www.bwce.coop/news-posts/what-to-do-after-watching-the-peoples-emergency-briefing

How and can we respond after watching this important documentary?

12/06/2026

When neighbours come together, change feels more achievable (and assessments are cheaper)!

🏡 In central Bath, five neighbours spent a relaxed evening together, along with an expert home energy assessor, exploring how similar Victorian terraces could be improved in terms of home energy efficiency.

They shared experiences, explored tailored retrofit options, and started to see what’s possible in their homes – from small changes to longer-term upgrades.

👉 Read the full story here, and sign up to get a specially discounted Home Energy Neighbourhoods assessment that will help you and your street: www.bwce.coop/case-studies/neighbourhood-central-bath

11/06/2026

What are the key features of a Community Benefit Society?

A community benefit society is an established legal structure favoured by social enterprises within the energy sector. It is attractive to ethical investors and protects the founding principles with an asset lock, ensuring that the business assets are only used in alignment with the community benefit objectives and not for private gain.

BWCE’s rules state that we aim to “carry out any business for the benefit of the community that involves promoting, facilitating, developing and running renewable and low carbon energy and energy efficiency projects in Bath and the surrounding areas”.

Our assets can never be cashed in by, or transferred to, private individuals or commercial interests without fair return, except where repaying share capital to members. While trading, assets must be used for community benefit and in the event of the Society being wound up, any proceeds would be used to repay creditors and then share capital to shareholders up to the value paid. Any surplus above this amount would be gifted to another society or charity with an asset lock with similar objectives.

We are registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Our registration number is 30960R

09/06/2026

Thank you to the people of Bath (and beyond) for coming to this People’s Emergency Briefing film screening at St Michael's Without Church.

We joined forces with our friends at St Michael's where Reverend Roger, Lisa Ware and their volunteers hosted at this perfect venue for a thought provoking and important evening. Share and Repair CEO Ruth Lambert, BWCE’s Pete Capener and author and campaigner Jonathon Porritt fired us up as our excellent panel and were truly excellent, guiding us through the facts of the film in an engaging and actionable way with inspiration.

Here are a few photos from the evening, it felt good to come together in the heart of Bath, joining communities and networks.

National Emergency Briefing

08/06/2026

Well done to Bath & North East Somerset Council, Parents for Future UK, the Bath Climate Hub for screening the National Emergency Briefing last week at Hayesfield Girls' School.

There were some great questions for the panel from the audience and some thoughtful and helpful responses how people could step into further action.

BWCE was delighted to join forces for this event, and we enjoyed hearing from Sara Grimes on the panel. Charlotte Howell, Charlene Adams and Lorraine Whitmarsh were an excellent combination guiding us through the evening and sharing insights.

Look how the map is filling up now! We would encourage any organisation or community group to consider having their own screening. Use the website here for further information: https://www.nebriefing.org/peb